This week, as part of $110 million going to “improve health care facilities in rural towns across the nation,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced funds for projects across Florida.
USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced the funds for more than 200 projects in more than 40 states and Guam. The funds come from the “American Rescue Plan Act.”
“Access to modern and sustainable health care infrastructure is critical to the health, well-being and prosperity for the millions of people who live in rural and Tribal communities,” Torres Small said. “That’s why the Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to making sure that people who need it most, no matter where they live, have access to high-quality and reliable health care services like urgent care, primary care and dental care. Through the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants I am announcing today, USDA is being a strong partner to people in 43 states and Guam.”
“The investments USDA is announcing will help build, renovate and equip health care facilities like hospitals and clinics in rural areas. They also include more than $9 million for 12 rural health care organizations to help 187,000 people living in energy communities, which are areas with high concentrations of coal-dependent jobs. This funding will help communities that are vital to our country’s energy production as the nation transitions to a clean-energy economy,” the USDA announced.
“The investments will be used for projects such as those to help rural hospitals and health care providers implement telehealth and nutrition assistance programs, increase staffing to administer COVID-19 vaccines and testing, build or renovate facilities, and purchase medical supplies. They will also help regional partnerships, public bodies, nonprofits and Tribes solve regional rural health care problems, which will help build a stronger, more sustainable rural health care system in response to the pandemic,” the USDA added.
Madison County Hospital Health Systems Inc. will get around $5 million. North Florida Medical Centers Inc. will get $1 million. The Franklin County Board Of County Commissioners will get two grants of $258,500 and $158,900. Feeding the Gulf Coast is also getting eight grants totaling around $700,000. The town of Paxton will get almost $680,000. The town of Ponce De Leon will get $1 million from the USDA. So will the Treasure Coast Food Bank.
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